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How to Improve Sadhana: Part II- ADDENDUM

Date: Sat, 26 Jun 2010 14:15:56 -0000 To: am-global@earthlink.net From: NJK Majumdar Subject: How to Improve Sadhana: Part II- ADDENDUM Baba "Bandhu a'ma'r, nikat' a'ma'r, a'mi kii ga'ibo toma'r ga'n..." (P.S. 525) Purport: O' my Bandhu, O' my dearmost, You are my very close and intimate One. What song should I sing to please You. You are aware about my longing. Baba, You are my Love, You are the personification of hope, saturated in sweetness.You are my heart of hearts-- and my everything. Baba, since that very first day when You blessed me by bringing me in Your closeness under Your care, since then by Your grace I have understood that You are my shelter; You are doing everything for me. Also since that very day, with Your divine touch You have blessed me with a new life, O my Bandhu and most intimate one. By Your causeless grace my way of living got transformed from a worldly existence into life divine. Since then everything has become blissful. O' my Lord, on that most blessed day You graciously caressed me with Your soft lotus hand. In that atmosphere of the blissful early morning dawn, the lotus flowers were blossoming in the pond and spreading their aroma all around. Then by Your infinite grace You pulled me very close to You and graciously placed me on Your Lap and loved me; and by placing Your hand on top of my head, You bathed me with divine effulgence. And You granted me ever thing. What You have done is unparalleled. Baba, You are love personified; You are my most dear; You are my everything... Note 1: Usually people think that the term 'Bandhu' means 'friend' but in AM devotional life it is not like that. Bandhu means something much more. Baba says, "'Bandhu' means 'those within the bondage of love'. That is when one can not tolerate the idea of separation it is called 'Bandhu'. Now you see in this world have you got any Bandhu? No. Even your friend, your best friend-- he also did not come at the same time as you and after leaving the cremation ground, there is permanent separation. He will be with you up to the cremation ground. After your cremation he won't be with you. So he is not Bandhu-- he is not friend for he can tolerate the idea of separation." "So who is the real friend? Parama Purusa. When you are in this physical framework-- in this quinquelemental framework, He is with you, with your body, with your mind and with your spirit. After death, He will be with your mind, with your soul. When the body will be lost, the body will become one with the earth but mind and spirit will remain, He will be with you. So He is the real friend, He is the real Bandhu. And there cannot be any mundane friend, mundane Bandhu." (AV-12)
== HOW TO IMPROVE SADHANA: Part II ADDENDUM ==
Namaskar, Recently, two letters were posted on the first point of Sixteen Points: I spoke to one acarya about point #1, "After urination, wash the urinary organ with water", and in addition to agreeing with all points in the above two letters he had some other interesting knowledge to share. It is that which I pass on to you here. In addition he addressed the problem of life adjustment regarding the amount of water after urination. This is also discussed in greater detail below in this mail, however in a nutshell Dadaji stated that while on tour/traveling he may just carry a 100ml bottle of water to use after urination, but quickly added that whenever he is in a domicile or jagrti then he most definitely switches over to a 1 litre container and uses that entire amount after urination, as the benefits are quite clear and readily apparent. Now let's get into the details.
PURPOSE OF POURING LOTS OF WATER
Here are some of the great benefits of pouring one full litre of water or more over the genitals during and after urination. 1. It cools down the genitalia and that keeps the tamasik vrtti in check. By keeping that area cool by using lots of water, then that tamasik vrtti will not dominate the mind. This is one tremendous benefit for any sadhaka, and verily every person. 2. Pouring large amounts of cold water over the pubic region creates an exchange of blood in that area which bring freshness to both body and mind. That circulation of blood nourishes all the glands, organs, nerves and cells of that region. 3. The muscles, nerves and overall biological system get strengthened by the use of adequate amounts (1 litre or more) of cold water. 4. It will prevent and eliminate bladder problems faced by older people who cannot control the flow of urine during the nighttime. That happens because the muscles and nerves weaken over time, but when cold water is regularly used then those bodily systems remain strong and in tact, in which case one will not suffer from that problem in old age. 5. One other great benefit of using 1 litre of water or more over the entire genital area is that it will ensure that all excess urine is removed from the urinary tract, as well as from the bladder. This keep the body clean and disease free.
TRY IT AND SEE FOR YOURSELF
Then acaryaji told the we should all experiment because by doing it once we would see a huge difference. Indeed if anyone just pours one spoonful of water on the pinpoint of the genital then there will be a little benefit and perhaps a touch more urine will release; but then if you pour a minimum of one litre of cold water over the entire pubis region and groin, then very soon all the leftover urine that was in the bladder will easily empty. You will see at minimum 100ml or 200ml of urine release from the bladder. Normally that urine in the bladder will not release, but when a full litre of water is used, then it will. Whereas if just a little water is used then that urine remains in the bladder and even in the urinary tract itself - in which case it will crytallise and block the flow of urine. Everyone is encourage to try and experience this for themselves, and of course many margiis may already be using this amount of water, i.e. 1 litre.
PROBLEMS AFTER 50 OR 60 YEARS OF AGE
If you pour a small mount of water, such as only one spoonful or even just half a cup, then the entire pubic area remains warm. In that case the blood just stagnates; it does not vigorously circulate as when a full litre or more of cold ware is used. Hence the muscles will not get nourished or strengthened. After years of not getting adequate nourishment, those muscles and nerves become weak. That is why when people reach 60 years of age, many lose control over the flow of their urine. On an involuntary basis, urine just releases. That is why older people have to use pads or diapers in their undergarments. It is unfortunate that many have to face this humiliation when it is so preventable by using an adequate amount of water. Of course this happens with kids too because they do not have the requisite strength to control their urination; hence they do "bed wetting" etc. But in later childhood that strength or ability to control develops. Naturally then all adults have that control as well. Just they lose it over time. However, this is not an eventuality or function of age; it is a function of poor life practices. If one pours an adequate amount of water over the entire publis region, then those nerves and muscles will remain strong even into very late age. Then one will have proper control over the flow or urine. Unfortunately, most of the population is unaware about this so it has turned into a serious problem with the elderly - then 99% of the people seem to suffer in this way.
YOUR CHOICE
All in all this is a well proven formula: It is your choice whether you want to use one spoonful or one litre of water during and after urination.
SIMILAR TO NATUROPATHY
In naturopathy, a similar cooling technique is used to heal and cure the body of problems and Baba has given this as a tub bath (Reference CC-3, 'Different Yogic Practices: Vistrta sna'na or vya'paka sna'na). In this practice the corp is soaked, but the limbs remain outside the tub. This water therapy is used to treat various diseases. Here the whole point is that cool or cold water is needed to both maintain and cure the body. If a certain part is weak or diseased then the treatment is to pour cold water over it and by that way the blood will rush all around. Due to this exchange of blood, the diseased area gets properly nourished. If cold water is not used, then there is no exchange of blood and hence no nourishment - it is then that that gland becomes weak and susceptible to disease. So we should all be vigilant to use at least a litre of cold or cool water after and during urination.
HALF BATH & BABA'S INSTRUCTIONS
So the technique of using a full litre or more of cold water after urination has many, many benefits. This pouring of water around the genital area is highly important when doing half-bath too; this is a well-known practice in Ananda Marga. When Baba first introduced the checking of 16 pts then during dharma samiiksa He explained that when doing half bath then one must pour water over the whole area from the low belly to the feet. That is the best way to do half-bath and that is Baba's system. It is not just that water is sprinkled on the toes and the tip of the genital. Rather from the navel all the way down, lots of water is to be poured in order to cool that entire region. Then one will get the true benefits of half-bath. That is Baba's system.
UNIVERSAL APPLICATION OF AM TEACHINGS
Even after understanding all of the above, my acarya said that there are a few wts who simply think that using 100ml of water is the way - since that is how they do it while traveling. But we should understand that the teachings of Ananda Marga are universal in nature - they are for all. On this earth there are some places that are extremely cold and other areas that are totally desert and suffer from a scarcity of water, in that case Baba gave the common solution that using even a little water is acceptable. Likewise when acaryas are traveling by train or plane or bus, they may be carrying just a small shaoca manjusa, in which case using a little water is acceptable. It has some benefit - it is better than nothing. But to get the full benefit, then one must pour one litre or more. Thus, whenever circumstances permit we should use a full pitcher of water after urination, not just that small shaoca manjusa we use when traveling. We must remember that Baba's teachings are to be practiced - they are not merely rituals. And by practicing we get the realisation of what works best. Thus although when traveling we may "adjust" and use a smaller container of water, whenever possible we should use a full litre of water, or more. Try it just once and see the benefit. Like all His guidelines, we should follow Baba's teachings of point #1 of Sixteen Points in a rational manner, and not as a ritual or rigid format. So that is the answer to some who think that since it is not practical to use a lot of water when traveling then it is fine to not use a lot of water when at home or in a jagrti.
BABA'S BLESSING
By His grace He has given us all the teachings for living a healthy life - one which is disease-free. Point #1 of Sixteen Points has much value. By following it and sharing it with others, to margiis and non-margiis alike, then they too can get the benefit. On this matter, as with all His teachings, we should guide and serve as many as we can. Baba says, "...In order to march ahead on the road of human welfare, we will have to strengthen ourselves in all the arena of life. The complete seeds of welfare in all the spheres – physical, mental, moral, social and spiritual – are embedded in the sixteen points. Hence be firm on the sixteen points." (A'nanda Va'nii #45) Namaskar, Nagendra
Note 1: COLD TUB BATH IN ANANDA MARGA
Baba says, "The practices given below are prescribed only for specific diseases. Therefore, they are to be performed only after consultation with an a'ca'rya." "(1) Vistrta sna'na or vya'paka sna'na: A bathtub is most convenient, but if this is not available, an earthen trough will suffice. If this is not available either, a wet towel can be used, soaking it repeatedly in water. Fill the bathtub with cold water, and sit in it undressed so that the area from the navel down remains submerged. Keep your feet dry and out of the tub. The area from the neck to the navel should be kept covered with a shirt or dry cloth. The crown of the head and the back of the head should be kept covered with a wet towel." "Now take another towel and rub the area from the right side of the abdomen to the groin seven or eight times. Do likewise on the left-hand side and horizontally from right to left and left to right. You should make sure that the towel on the head remains wet." "After this, wipe the abdomen, hands and thighs and take a full bath. If this is not possible, then leave the tub wearing a shirt." "This should be practised behind closed doors. In the absence of a bathtub or an earthen trough, a wet towel may be wrapped around the areas to be bathed, but in order to compensate, cold water must be poured constantly over the towel, and the towel which is to be used for the massage must be kept wet. After vya'paka sna'na, the thighs, pubic area and abdomen should be warmed with a dry towel." "Before and after this bath one should not eat, in order to allow the stomach to rest." (CC-3)

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